Corporal William Robson

Corporal William Robson. 1st/7th ( Territorial ) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. He was killed in action in France on 3rd May 1917 during the Battle of Arras, aged 27 and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, Arras, France.  He was the son of Isaac and Kezia Robson of The Retired Railwaymen’s Cottages, Spittal and the husband of Mary Isabella Robson of 6 Palace Green, Berwick-upon-Tweed. ( The C.W.G.C. site has his unit as “W” Coy. 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers ). He fell in the attack on the German trenches near Monchy-le-Preux. The attack failed and heavy casualties were suffered. 2 Officers and 43 Other Ranks were killed and 5 Officers and 133 Other Ranks wounded. The photographs show troops during the Battle. The colour image shows the impressive Memorial raised to commemorate the 50th (Northumbrian) Division of which the Battalion was part. It was erected near the village of Weiltje in the Ypres Salient where nearby the Division had fought its first action of the War only days after landing on the Continent and had suffered heavy casualties.